Tutorial - Low Relief Stone Rubbings on Polymer Clay

The tutorial for making 'Low Relief Stone Rubbings on Polymer Clay' is now available on Etsy. A few people have emailed me asking how I achieve this look, so I worked on this over the last couple of days to be able to share it with you as soon as possible. I hope you will enjoy this as much as I have.

My tutorial is based on grave stone rubbings, but not morbid as such and a lot of fun. You'll discover various ways and it will open up a lot of possibilities with using this technique. For making my innovative clip art PhotoEz stencils visit my earlier posting.

*With list of materials and tools, detailed instructions and 18 photos, you will be creating your own "Low relief stone rubbings" after following the 14 step outline I have written for this pdf file. Here is a little teaser clip.

PhotoEZ Pendants and Pins

Polymer Clay Pendants, Pins and Earrings:


After developing your PhotoEz into patterns you like, you can use them the traditional way by using fine acrylic paint and using a squeegee to silkscreen the paint onto your clay sheet. I've discovered I can use PhotoEZ in a completely different manner. I'm sorry I was way too busy to write up the tutorial because I had way too much fun making these!

Front of pendantBack of pendant

Some Imitative Leather Coasters and more Storage

Gee, were you lucky to see my 'tidier' version of my studio yesterday. I put away my beading to get my clay back out for Fall. Fall has come early! lol Decided to make some imitative Leather and turn them into Coasters. Not sure yet, how these will stand up to use, but hubby is gladly going to 'test' them since he is the coaster expert in our house, lol. He's picky about Coasters because he dislikes any that stick to the glass and drinks tend to form a lot of moisture on the outside which either makes coasters stick to the glass when picked up or the glass slides around on top of the coaster. Well, the surface of them is 'etched' with texture, so hopefully this will prevent the clinging or the sliding. I'll let you know ;)
About storage. Here are a few more of my tins, including one I show open here. Its a nice big one (16 1/2" x 12" x 7") that holds my chalks, acrylic tubes and pinata inks. I've collected these Nurnberger Lebkuchen tins for the last 15 years. My dad used to send them, but shipping from Germany for one of these, I might as well buy 2 of them here. They are filled with the famous Nuremberger Gingerbread Cookies that were first created back in the 15th century. We now order one for Christmas from Coombs Country Market. Arthur Urie (general manager) will order a few this year. One of them has our name on it ;) They used to retail for about $150 plus tax and don't know what they will be this year, but you can email arthur@oldcountrymarket.com and ask. For me they have an artful but useful collection.

Studio Space

Well, our national and island polymer clay group is talking about 'studio space' and how we organize our tools and such. Here is a glimpse of my space and how I store some stuff.

This is my desk and extra worktable (plus I use another big one when I need it). The desk tray (whitish are in picture) used to be for a typewriter and pulls out into a neat worksurface....very handy! I've got a nice front drawer and 6 other drawers. The top drawer holds my very important long ruler, pens, inkpads, stamps. I pull out the drawer and my measuring tool is right there. Drawer #1 I use for all my wire work, anvil, hammer, wire, polishing cloth etc. Drawer #2 I use for all my bead embellishments like rivoli stones, crystal etc,. Drawer #3 and 4 for extra paints, armorall, babywipes, gloves, things to be covered. Drawer #5 for leather and fabric swaps Drawer #6 for paper goods, transfers, silkscreens.
This is how I store my most frequently used tools. Put a couple of tins inside a longer one which I use to hang all my pliers and hole punches. Timer is magnetic and ready to use.

This is how I store my cords, on the inside door of a closet beside my desk. Other cord I store in bins:

This is how I store my beads and supplies, most on hand and visible as outa sight is outa my mind. The extra drawers hold refills of beads, seedbeads, plastic baggies, lots of findings, more trays holding pendants etc. Above the beadtrays is a shelf with seedbead vials. Part of the wall holds all the gemstone beads.

This is where I store swap items, note books, clay textures, stamps, ephemera. I have tins like this all over the room and two others that store etsy stuff, packing materials, clay blocks. Also got a small rack to hold delica seed beads for easy access:
This is how I keep my most often used powders, paints and embossing powders, a little cupboard on my desk. Was a great find some years back at Costco, was filled with Essential oils and bath stuff:

Something Egyptian

Something finished! Yay! I should pat myself on the back that I finally finished something from so long ago. I'm such a procrastinator. In my last post I showed these pendants as unfinished. What gave me a kick in the ol' behind is that I have a Gallery request for something Egyptian, something 'rich'. Well, the Maat Necklace on the left is very rich....because....I used real vintage 18 KT, either vermeil* or goldfill *beads on there. They aren't just vintage but originally also from Egypt. I feel I was fortunate to get my hands on these. I met 70 something Nassrin about 10 years ago at a Water colour workshop. She told me she used to bead when she was younger, but that she had no use for them now. She invited me for tea and showed me tins and oodles of beads that I could not resist, including megasize turquoise blue and cobalt 'Donkey' beads (yep, used on Donkeys to ward off evil), but she also a large stash of beads from around 1920, small metal faceted seedbeads and even some "Colgate" beads that had perfume labels and scented with lilac. This was before they started making toothpaste.
Anyway, Nassrin had collected the beads for some time. Then she pulled out a silk bag filled with these gold beads. My jaw dropped. She remembered they were 18KT 'something', but not sure if they are either a heavy plate or filled. I didn't expect her to remember every detail, but knew she was as honest as honest can be. Today I took a bead and filed along the cap and filed and filed....well, I still see gold. Either it is a very thick layer or filled. Goldfill means a percentage of gold right through the metal, but usually it would be 12 or 14KT, not 18. Anyway, no matter to me, they cost me an arm and leg and that's why I hadn't used but a few until now. Now I'm thinking I either have to keep this necklace in my own collection or it will be up for sale, otherwise it'll have to fetch at least $350. The Nefertiti one will go to the Gallery. Both necklaces also have Lapis Lazuli, Carnelian, and Turquoise beads.

What to do with unfinished work....

Here are a few of my unfinished and half-finished pieces. The faux bone Maat Goddess pendant I made for a workshop I gave, the lower Nefertiti pendant I made back in 2002 and the Mokume Gane Japanese Text I don't even remember when, lol. I experimented with some finishes and have more "Egyptian" stuff than I know what to do with. Then there are the 'positive print' leaves I made...Pins? What to do with all this stuff. Any ideas?
The Nefertiti tile (with organza) and longer tile are still unbaked...bracelet tiles maybe?

Our boat sold to....Tom Cruise....?

This is from an old post originally published in 2008, but when put back in Draft mode and then when re-published will adopt a new date...odd. Wanted to show this story to a friend of mine, so won't be up long...

Well, looks like our boat sold. The neighbour was right there with a camera. Looking out the window I thought, why the heck would our neighbour out there be taking pictures of our boat...? Well, he wasn't taking pics of the boat, but of Tom Cruise! I went out to investigate and sure enough, there is my hubby talking to a bearded Mr. Cruise! (you can still tell!) Mr. Cruise plops down a bankdraft (no name on it other than the banks....weird). Boy that was quick!! Taking our baby away....we'll miss you! Got some pics. Finally, the bearded guy with big grin (nice white teeth) , shakes hands with hubby and hubby says: "Thanks Todd". Todd?....what?! not Tom? Sheesh....could have sworn it sure looks like him. I guess "Todd" will take her on a cruise and use as a sport fishing vessel or whatever he wishes. I asked my husband what the guys name really is and he says he doesn't know, that he only introduced himself as 'Todd'. I said: 'you mean you never ASKED him for a last name?' "....no....I got the money, didn't I?" Well, it was a fine boat and we'll miss "SeaDreamer V"
Well, Tom and Katy were here a few years back when Katy was pregnant with their daughter Suri. Walked right past them on the beach. Fascinating to spot celebrities in our parts. Actually not, according to other locals as we get them on a monthly basis, Robin Williams, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito (supposedly a very good tipper)...gawd I can't name them all, but Arnie Schwarzenegger came to visit our Harbour with his mega-yacht. This is after all a nice secluded place for them to come and visit. Hubby's cousin stayed at Patrick Dempseys flat last summer.
And hey....Tom Cruise, he isn't as tall as I thought, BUT....very fit! (click on picture to enlarge)...

And there goes that necklace

Remember the necklace I made a couple of posts back? Well, didn't take long...first market it shows up and woosh....gone. I think it really suits Julia of Victoria, BC who was kind enough to pose it for me. Looks great on her, doesn't it? It was a great Market btw. We actually had some fabulous duo singing in the most professional way, on occasion even sounding much like Sarah McLaughlan. They came all the way from Florida.

V Day!

A visit from my friend Vanessa made this rainy day much more fun than it would have been. Coming up to Tofino is a more than 3 hour long drive (not counting the drive back!), so V as I like to call Vanessa, was a real Sport when I suggested we experiment with a little polymer clay. I wanted to try a hidden magic mokume gane thing that I saw on Parole de Pate (Feb2008), but with a slight difference, by adding a sheet of translucent with pinata inks and another one translucent with painted gold leaf sandwiched in between. The result wasn't quite what I imagined or had hoped for, but am happy nonetheless. The result was an 'aha' moment because now I now what to try next....a thicker version for more depth.
Thanks for a great visit V!

A lot of green...(that table cloth must go....I don't like gingham)

V's sheet which reminded me of some ancient script....

Goofin' around, lol.
Finished one project...

Butterflies...

I've had a request to make butterfly earrings and scoured 'google' for caned butterflies. There are some great tutorials out there, but I wasn't in the mood to copy or to sit down and start 5 different canes. The reason is time, so I shortcut my endeavour with something 'printable'...shrink plastic. 'Quickie' designs seems to be my motto for this summer. Affordable things that people can purchase on a whim.
I'll still plan on using these 'printables' here for actual canes...come Fall/Winter. Right now things are too hectic, but am looking forward to do some caning again. I made some orca and gray whale sunset ones years ago and still have a few slices of them. All my previous butterfly and even turtle canes have been used up without ever having gotten a picture of them. click on the pics for closer view.